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Undeserved Goodness–Part 2

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, God's Grace, Uncategorized, tagged Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, God's Grace, Grace on June 27, 2013| 7 Comments »

On Monday we began a list of the riches we enjoy because of God’s G.R.A.C.E.–God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

Or, as Matthew Henry defined God’s grace: the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind.

And because our God loves us so very much, his grace is multi-faceted. Thus far I’ve discovered forty-seven aspects of God’s grace. On Monday I shared twenty-three; here are the remaining twenty-four.

24. An unshakable KINGDOM, as a promised inheritance (James 2:5).

25. Everlasting LOVING-KINDNESS that draws us to him (Jeremiah 31:3).

26. Rich MERCY that spares us from what we really deserve (Ephesians 2:4-5).

27. Wonderful NEWNESS of Life with Christ, who is our constant companion (Romans 6:4).

28. Deep PEACE, because God’s children have nothing to fear (John 14:27).

29. A positive PERSPECTIVE, to see good in the bleakest of circumstances (Philippians 1:12-18).

30. A privileged POSITION as members of a royal priesthood, because through Christ we belong to God (1 Peter 2:9).

31. God’s joyful PRESENCE, which makes our hearts glad (Psalm 21:6).

32. Flourishing PROSPERITY of soul, because our confidence is in God, for his provision and protection (Psalm 128:1-2).

33. Personalized PURPOSE, to fulfill a God-ordained plan (Jeremiah 29:11).

34. Full QUALITY of Life, as a child of the King (John 10:10).

35. An intimate RELATIONSHIP with Almighty God, like two good friends having dinner together (Revelation 3:20).

36. Quiet REST, as we allow him to handle our worries and fears, heal our hurts, and relieve our guilt (Matthew 11:28-30).

37. Generous REWARD for whatever good we do (Ephesians 6:8).

38. Eternal SALVATION incredibly given to us as a free gift (Romans 6:23).

39. Life-changing SATISFACTION, because God’s love and power are at work in us (Psalm 63:2-5).

40. Firm SECURITY that God will never fail us (Lamentations 3:22).

41. The all-sufficient STRENGTH of God to equip us for life’s challenges (2 Corinthians 12:9).

42. An unending SUPPLY of everything we will ever need (Philippians 4:19).

43. God’s abiding THOUGHTFULNESS of each of us, 24-7 (Psalm 139:17-18).

44. The absolute TRUTH of his Word, with its reliable guidance and uplifting encouragement (Psalm 119:137-138).

45. Lavish UNDERSTANDING because he knows our weaknesses (Ephesians 1:7-8, Romans 8:26).

46. Assured VICTORY over Satan, because of Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:57).

47. Divine WISDOM to determine right actions from wrong (James 1:5).

No doubt this is just a partial list. In fact, if you discover additional facets of God’s grace, I would love to hear from you. We can make this discovery process a team effort!

But even as the list stands now, these varied and glorious gifts of God’s grace prove his sufficiency. He is all we need (Isaiah 58:11).

* * * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Father, for showering us with your grace–grace that blesses us far beyond comprehension. You are indeed most worthy of our praise, because the greatness of your grace no one can fathom.

Art and photo credits: www.lifehopeandtruth.com ; www.BreathOfLifeOnline.net ; www.dilshara.redbubble.com ; www.lift-up-jesus.blogspot.com ; www.creativeoutburst.com

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Small Things

Posted in Encouragement, God, God-Given Abilities, Self-Esteem, Service, Uncategorized, tagged Ephesians 2:10, God, Good works, Gospel of Matthew, John 6:1-13, Mark 12:41-44, Matthew 10:29-31, Micah 5:2, Psalm 115:13, Self-Esteem on June 13, 2013| 7 Comments »

She glides across the platform in confident strides. One hand waves in sweeping arcs to the large audience. The crowd is clapping and cheering.

In the other hand, with confident ease, she holds the microphone. And the smile—big and broad. Bright white teeth visible even from the balcony.

Able to sing like a nightingale and speak truth with conviction. Impacting thousands.

Now there is someone God is using in a powerful way, to make a significant contribution in the Kingdom of God. No doubt she’s highly valuable to God.

Does a little demon ever park on your shoulder and whisper, “So what’s your claim to fame? What are you doing that’s important? Your spot in the scheme of things is nothing compared to that shining star on the stage. You might as well face the truth: You are unimportant. The ship of Significance has passed you by.”

Does that speech sound the least bit familiar? You’re not alone. Demons use those same lies on a lot of us. Evil spirits aren’t very creative, are they?

But here’s the truth of the matter:

Each of us is the workmanship of God (Ephesians 2:10). The Greek word sometimes has the connotation of “work of art.” You are a work of art—carefully designed and executed.

The verse goes on to explain we’ve been created to do good works. It does not say the same work. Diversity of personality, talent, and interest are necessary among the children of God in order that all his plans are accomplished.

He made each of us unique, to fulfill a personalized plan. Every now and then we see such a plan unfold so clearly, we know God engineered the circumstances. Sometimes it’s a unique set of talents or gifts that work together sublimely to meet a need.

Take, for example, the naturally talented writer, who happened to grow up in a bilingual home, and studied Christian Education in college. She was especially prepared by God to write Spanish curriculum for a Christian publishing company.

Other times the plan is much less obvious. That’s called walking by faith.

But rest assured you are valuable to God (Matthew 10:29-31).

Believe that he has prepared in advance good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Take joy and satisfaction from completing those good works.

It may not be walking across a stage with a microphone. It might mean walking across the kitchen with a rolling pin—to bake cookies for the neighbors.

That’s just a small thing, you say?

Think about this: What if God especially likes small things?

Personally, I’m fascinated by small things. Miniatures, doll houses, petit-point, babies!

Scripture gives us indication that God loves small things, too.

Sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31).

Two little mites given by a widow (Mark 12:41-44).

Five small barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:1-13).

Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Let’s never again allow those little demons of abasement to put us down. God has promised: “I will bless those who fear the Lord—small and great alike” (Psalm 115:13, emphasis added).

You see, in God’s sight, we’re of equal worth.

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Nan-Sense: It Makes Sense to Me

Posted in Encouragement, Faith, God's Wisdom, Uncategorized, Wisdom, tagged 23, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God, God's Strength, God's Wisdom, James 1:4, James 4:6, Joshua 1:9, Mistakes, Philippians 1:21, Philippians 3:14, Proverbs 1:7, Wisdom on June 6, 2013| 4 Comments »

Steve and I received a calendar for Christmas with a quote for each day. Sometimes the choice is quite meaningful, such as:

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way” – Babe Ruth.

We can actually find similar truth in scripture.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Sometimes, as I turn the calendar page to a new day, I have to wonder what the selection committee was thinking. See if you agree.

Sample #1:

“Do not fear mistakes. There are none.” (I won’t name the person who said that!)

Forgive me, but that makes no sense. Am I missing something? If so, please set me straight.

But here’s what makes sense to me:

“All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes” — Winston Churchill.

Wise men also admit mistakes and correct them. When we don’t, we heap another mistake on top of the first: pride. Ouch!

When we do admit and correct, we develop humility and maturity. And God values those traits (James 4:6, 1:4)

Sample #2:

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”

Here’s what makes sense to me:

Although there is joy in the journey, it is not home. Our final home is heaven. I do not want to become enamored with the journey and lose sight of my home.

With Paul, I want to “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

(Photo credit: irunandshoot)

Sample #3:

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”

Problem is, no matter how well we take care of ourselves, these bodies have expiration dates. But praise God our earthly bodies are not the only place to live!

In fact, for those of us who know Jesus, “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). We’ll have new, spiritual bodies fit for heaven — strong and vibrant, with no expiration date. Can you imagine?

Paul said, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (v. 23).

Oh, yes.

Thank you, Father, for your Word that speaks reliable wisdom and truth—truth that guides, teaches, and protects. But I need your help to live by its truths. Remind me that only fools despise your wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

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A Mindful God

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Power, tagged Blessings, Encouragement, God, God's Goodness, God's Power, Isaiah 49:15, James Janeway, Jeremiah 32:40, Psalm 103:2, Psalm 105:5, Psalm 115:12, Psalm 139:16, Psalm 8:4 on June 3, 2013| 14 Comments »

Years ago, Mom taught me a neat trick for those times when I can’t remember the name of someone or something.

“Go through the alphabet,” she suggested. “Usually a letter will stand out, and it will jog your memory.”

No doubt many of you have discovered the same strategy.

Now that I’m getting older, it has occurred to me: Is it my imagination, or am I using the alphabet to jog my memory more than I used to?

That question brought a silly visualization to my mind. Who is the oldest Person we know? God–he has always existed, even before time itself, right?

What if he experienced memory challenges? I can see him with his elbow propped on the throne, stroking the thick, white wool of his beard, the other hand tapping absent-mindedly against the folds of his glowing robe. He’s talking out loud to himself (another habit of the elderly).

“Oh, what is her name? I can see her face…She’s one of our brown-eyed, brown-haired children. I just love deep, dark eyes…Isn’t she the one We blessed with a raise, even though she didn’t ask for it? Oh, what is her name?”

I told you it was silly. God doesn’t have memory problems! He is all-powerful and all-knowing. Actually, considering his magnificent splendor, it’s really quite amazing he cares about us at all.

David wrote, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him” (Psalm 8:4)?

Mindful. I like that. God’s mind is full of us. He not only knows our names, he knows the number of hairs on each of our heads (Matthew 10:30). It stands to reason God knows our favorite colors, and what each of us was doing ten years ago today.

And when we consider he has planets, moons, and stars to orchestrate, it is no small wonder he concerns himself with such little specks as us.

Another psalmist wrote, “The Lord remembers us and will bless us” (Psalm 115:12a).

Not only does he remember who we are, he remembers our needs and blesses us accordingly.

Meditate on that concept for a moment. God supplies our every need.

James Janeway, a Puritan minister and author of the seventeenth century, said that such contemplations are enough to launch us forth into an ocean of goodness, where you can see no shore, nor feel the bottom. I like that, too.

Here’s another concept worthy of careful thought: God’s mindfulness did not begin when each of us was born. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16). Could our days have been recorded without God’s knowledge? No. That means we have been on his mind since before each of our birth dates.

And last, God’s mindfulness will never end. He will continue to be mindful of us in the future, into infinity. “I will never stop doing good to them” (Jeremiah 32:40), He said. And “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15b).

Oh, Father, thank you for your constant, caring attention. Thank you for your ocean of goodness from which you bless us. In return, may I be mindful of you, remembering the wonders you have done, your miracles (Psalm 105:5a). I want to praise you continually, and forget not one of all your benefits (103:2).

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Come to the River

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God's Grace, tagged Blessings, God, Grace, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 46:4 on May 23, 2013| 13 Comments »

Let’s take a walk down to the river, you and I. It won’t take long—I know how busy you are…

…You’ll come? Splendid!

It’s much too lovely a day to stay indoors anyway. See how the sunshine fairly dances across the mounds of bright white clouds? And look how the yellow asters and violets seem to vie for attention in the grass.

Listen! Before we even glimpse the river through the trees, we can hear the water gurgling over the rocks.

Ah-h-h. Feel that cool air? These grand, shady oaks grow especially lush by the river.

River under the Trees (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here we are! I told you it wouldn’t take long. Let’s sit on these rocks for a moment.

Isn’t it peaceful? The only sounds are the burbling eddies and the distant chirping of a few birds. Must be nap time for the woodland creatures.

The water currents are moving at a slow, steady pace today. Look how the sun glints off the gentle ripples, like tiny stars on liquid sky.

What is it about water that we find so appealing? Why does a vista of calm waters also calm our spirits?

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Such questions bring to mind a scripture about God being like a river.

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells” (Psalm 46:4).

Those of us who love God are the inhabitants of the city, made glad by the streams of the God River.

But how is God like a river?

One, he is our resting place, much as this river offers a quiet retreat. Just reflecting on a few of his names can calm our hearts. He is our Shepherd—caring and protective, he is our Rock—reliable and strong, he is our Father—loving and kind.

Just to name a few.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two, God’s grace (all of his riches) comes to us like the water of this river, in an unending flow. And much as we delight in this scenic view of drifting water and majestic trees, God’s exquisite grace cheers our hearts again and again.

But to enjoy the river fully, we have to sit on its banks. We have to look and listen with focused attention. Otherwise we’ll miss much of its beauty.

The same is true of God’s grace.

So sit quietly. Turn over in your mind the glorious treasures of his grace, and inspect them:

• Inexhaustible love

• Unmerited favor

• Total forgiveness

• Eternal bliss in heaven

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

• Lavish provision

• Unfailing empowerment

• Delightful blessings

• Dazzling transformation

And again, this list is just a sampling.

Last, consider these grand oak trees. They, too, offer appropriate imagery of another Bible passage about rivers.

“Blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
bearing fresh fruit every season”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8, MSG).

* * * * * * * * * *

Oh, Lord, thank you for your peace and grace that flow unending like a great river. I reaffirm my trust in you. My heart’s desire is to be like one of these trees– spiritually strong, serene, and calm—no matter what happens. And I want to bear fruit, to grow qualities that reflect you. As I seek to send my roots deep into the soil of your Word, guide my thoughts and actions. Because most of all, I want to honor you.

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Deed Seeds

Posted in Encouragement, Excellence, Godly Character, Perseverance, Service, tagged Acts 16, Charles Spurgeon, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Encouragement, Perseverance, Positive Influence, Service on May 16, 2013| 6 Comments »

English: Portrait of Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Frontispiece from her book of poems “Three Women” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“With every deed you are sowing a seed, though the harvest you may not see.”

–Ella Wheeler Wilcox, author and poet (1850-1919)

Observation #1:

We never know when a small deed may plant a seed of faith or encouragement that will reap a bountiful harvest in the life of someone else.

Live attentively to the fact that every deed is a seed. The people around us are watching and listening.

Perhaps you’re familiar with the story of a church elder who once led a worship service for two. It happened over 150 years ago in England. A blizzard on Saturday night made it impossible for villagers to get to the church—including the pastor.

The elder almost sent home the two individuals who had come, an older man and a young boy. But something (Someone?) compelled him to speak. Later he confessed his words came out rather jumbled and brusque.

But. The elder planted a seed that immediately took root. The young boy accepted Jesus as his Savior. His name? Charles Spurgeon—preacher and author extraordinaire, whom God used mightily. People are still impacted by his writings to this day.

(For an example of Dr. Spurgeon’s God-given genius, see the post, “Not Length But Strength,” from last week, May 9).

Observation #2:

Our responsibility is the planting of “deed seeds”; the harvest is up to God.

The same principle that works in the physical realm works in the spiritual realm: A farmer may plant, fertilize, and water, but the germination of each seed is a miracle only God can bring about. Don’t become tightly focused on results.

English: Seedling (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The elder who led Charles to the Lord that snowy, wintry day, had no idea the boy would grow up to have such a profound effect on the world. The gentleman may not have lived long enough to see the results of his deed that morning. But we know, and we marvel.

Observation #3:

The true harvest is not measurable in physical terms, and it’s hidden from view in the spiritual realm.

Only now and then does God give us a glimpse of what our small deeds are accomplishing. Perhaps God planned it that way so pride and self-gratification do not taint the glory of the harvest.

Imagine the joy that elder continues to experience every time a saint comes through the gates of heaven, who has been influenced by Charles Spurgeon—fourth and fifth generation Christians, whose ancestors accepted Jesus because of Dr. Spurgeon. Others have been influenced and encouraged by the preacher’s writings.

The positive influence of a man or woman of God never dies.

Ivan Grohar: The Sower. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Such a possibility should translate into enthusiastic motivation for planting seeds wherever we go.

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More Meaningful Mishaps–on the Keyboard

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, Generosity, God's Presence, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged Acts 16, Blessings, Chris Tomlin, Encouragement, Faith, God's Presence, Paul, Praise, Silas, Worship on May 13, 2013| 8 Comments »

Back in January I wrote a post about meaningful mishaps on the keyboard—typos with significance. Now, four months later, I’ve collected a few more.

Mishap #1:

I meant to type caring, but the screen showed daring. Actually, the two words can be used together in a meaningful way: Sometimes we must be daring in our caring.

My husband, Steve, is a generous tipper. He frequently dares to care with his wallet. Not that we have a lot of money to spare, but we’ve experienced time and again you can’t outgive God. His economy isn’t logical; it’s theological.

(Photo credit: TBoard)

A few years ago Steve was traveling out-of-state every few months to visit his elderly parents. Each time he would stay at a bed and breakfast near the assisted living home. Steve became well-acquainted with the B & B manager and always left her a gracious tip.

In December of 2011, Steve’s dad graduated to heaven. He had served God well and been a mentor to many. At age ninety-three, he was looking forward to meeting Jesus face to face.

Since we’d be needing several days’ accommodation, Steve called T. to see if she might have a room available for us at the B & B—even though it was very short notice.

“I can accommodate you the first three nights, but that last night, we’re full,” she responded. “However! There is no reason you and Nancy can’t stay with me. My apartment is good-sized, and you’ll have your own suite. In fact, I insist!”

Would T. have made such a generous offer, if Steve had not been so gracious to her? Probably. T is a very giving woman herself. I do know Steve did not give those generous tips in order to receive.

But when we dare to care, God often augments the results.

Mishap #2:

Imagine my surprise to look at the screen and see, not long-standing faith as I’d intended, but song-standing faith.

Turns out, that is quite meaningful. Frequently a song will lift my spirit and affirm my faith. Take Chris Tomlin’s song, Our God. Imagine an energized congregation singing the chorus with passion and volume:

Chris Tomlin performing a concert in Johnson City, Tennessee, November 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And if our God is with us,
Then what can stand against us?
And if our God is for us,
Then who could ever stop us?

Such an experience has a powerful effect. I find myself standing up straighter. The concerns on my mind fade in importance, and my heart fills with confidence. Yes, song-standing faith works wonders! I need to avail myself of the opportunity more often.

Mishap #3:

The word was supposed to be dailyness, referring to the humdrum routine that occupies more of our time than we’d like. Instead, here’s what I typed: dailymess.

(Photo credit: WarzauWynn)

M-m-m. Another matter that occupies more of our time than we’d like: the messes we have to clean up, the interruptions, the unexpected turns of events. Such moments generate frustration and raise blood pressure. Not good!

So what do we do when the daily-ness of our lives, which is challenging enough, becomes daily-mess?

To begin, song-affirming faith (Mishaps #2) will certainly help. Remember Paul and Silas, missionaries who traveled far and wide to tell others about Jesus? While visiting Philippi, they stumbled into an awful mess, and ended up in prison. For all they knew, they could be killed the next day. And yet at midnight, these two were praying and singing hymns to God (Acts 16:25).

They were accessing song-affirming faith to combat the mess—the unexpected turn of events in their lives.

And why were Paul and Silas in prison in the first place? They had been daring and caring (Mishap #1, above). They had helped a slave girl, enraged the owners, and were arrested. BUT! God intervened in a miraculous way. An earthquake opened the prison doors. Paul, Silas and the other prisoners could have escaped, but didn’t. As a result, the jailer wanted to know about this Jesus they’d been praying to and singing about. He wanted to know how he and his family could have eternal life. The daring and caring of Paul and Silas paid great dividends—more souls for the kingdom of heaven! (See Acts 16 for the whole incredible story.)

Daring and caring. Song-affirming faith. Both combat the daily-mess of life.

* * * * * * * * *

Thank you, Father, for the affirmations you reveal through my keyboard mishaps: 1) You augment daring and caring to produce amazing results, and 2) Song-affirming faith ushers us into your presence where we experience your power and presence, and 3) You provide strength and perseverance to deal with the daily-mess of life.

Hallelujah! I give thanks to you with everything I’ve got! Your works are so great, worth a lifetime of study–endless enjoyment! Splendor and beauty mark your craft; your generosity never gives out, your miracles are your memorial. You are the God of Grace and the God of Love! (Taken from Psalm 111:1-4, The Message.)

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Unexpected Reward

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Christmas, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Patience, Uncategorized, tagged Appreciation, Blessings, Christmas, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Jeremiah 17:10, Patience on May 6, 2013| 17 Comments »

‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the mall,

Shoppers with gift cards were having a ball.

I was among them, reveling in one of my favorite activities: bargain hunting. There’s something exhilarating about combing through a rack of clothing, which everyone else has passed by, and finding a gem. Marked down. At least twice.

Ruth of the Old Testament gleaned Boaz’ fields (Ruth 2:2-3); I glean sales racks.

Field of Boaz (Photo credit: Seetheholyland.net)

This particular December 26 while browsing in Macy’s, a true treasure emerged from the rejects: a lined, flowing silk skirt, black, with vertical stripes of rust and taupe. Down each stripe ran a subtle pattern of flowers.

Such an elegant, versatile skirt would be a great addition to my wardrobe, I thought. Warily I searched for the tag. Although tucked among the clearance merchandise, it still might cost too much. There was no tag.

So I headed to the nearest cashier counter for a price check.

Now if you’ve ever shopped on December 26, you know the importance of taking plenty of patience with you. It’s probably the second busiest shopping day of the whole year, right behind Black Friday. Long lines at the cash register are just part of the process.

in line (Photo credit: iowa_spirit_walker)

Imagine my delight to see only two people at the counter.

Customer #1 didn’t take very long at all. Fantastic.

Customer #2 was returning merchandise that she had received as a gift. And although it was from Macy’s, her gift came from out-of-state. This particular store didn’t carry that pant-and-sweater set. Now what? The cashier didn’t know.

The manager was called. Wait. Wait. Wait.

She didn’t know what to do either.

I scanned the surrounding area, looking for another counter where I might get waited on sooner. They were backed up, too. Might as well stay put.

Phone calls ensued. Wait. Wait. Wait.

Finally, someone at the other end of the line knew what to do and explained the steps to follow. Wait. Wait. Wait.

Of course, the steps were not easy to follow. A few missteps occurred. Wait. Wait. Wait.

At long last, the customer left with a receipt. To her credit, she apologized for taking so long. I said something like, “These things happen. Can’t be helped.” I even smiled. After all, it wasn’t her fault.

To the credit of Ms. S. P. (Sales Person), she, too, apologized for the delay, and cheerfully asked how she could help me.

“I might want to buy this skirt, but there’s no tag.”

She looked it over, but Miss S.P. didn’t find a tag either.

“Tell you what,” she said. “Since you were so nice about the situation with the last customer, I’ll just ring it up with this.” She pulled over another skirt, sitting in a fluff on the end of the counter. The price? Under $7.00.

“I’ll take it!” I cried, and whispered a prayer of gratitude to God. That super-bargain skirt seemed like a gift from him, almost a reward for my patience.

God has said, “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Does that mean God rewards every good deed with a gracious blessing? No, I’d become a very spoiled daughter of the King if he did that. In addition, any good deeds I might undertake would be generated by wrong motives.

And please, don’t pat me on the back either. I’m not confrontational by nature anyway. It wasn’t that hard to wait, smile, express understanding, and be patient.

But. Blessings like that skirt come just often enough to remind us:

He’s watching.

He’s appreciating.

There are even moments He’s smiling, because of the choices we make.

The satisfaction in those realities is a glorious blessing in itself.

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The Purpose of Problems–Part 2

Posted in Encouragement, Excellence, Faith, God's Presence, Godly Character, Maturity, Perseverance, Suffering, Uncategorized, tagged 1 Chronicles 29:17, Acts 14:22, Encouragement, God's Presence, God's Strength, Godly Character, James 1:2, Jeremiah 31:3, Jeremiah 32:27, Maturity, Perseverance, Suffering on May 2, 2013| 7 Comments »

Hardship (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Monday our starting point was Acts 14:22: “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Not exactly an encouraging affirmation, is it!

But we discovered that problems can actually be opportunities—opportunities to improve our perspective, foster appreciation, and draw us closer to God.

Another benefit? Problems build character.

And why is that a valuable endeavor? Wise King Solomon answered that question eons ago: “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity” (1 Chronicles 29:17). That means, when I face problems with integrity, I bring pleasure to my Heavenly Father. Now that’s a goal worth pursuing.

integrity (Photo credit: glsims99)

Integrity is firm adherence to a code or standard of values. The one and only true standard is God’s standard, laid out in his Word. Integrity includes righteousness, courage, perseverance, and faith–character traits that don’t develop without pressure.

The key is to live within the spiritual realm with him. Then the physical realm becomes less important. It’s as if we exist in an alternative reality. No wallowing in self-pity. No rehashing the negative aspects of the situation. No time wasted considering the “what-ifs.”

Instead we “count it all joy when we meet various trials” (James 1:2). How?

1. Practice his presence by speaking to him throughout the day. Keep rehearsing God’s attributes. Remember all his benefits. Think of the blessings he has already provided.

2. Acknowledge those little demons of worry, shame, or inadequacy. Call them by name and present them before God. Notice how they cower as God proclaims his everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Watch them retreat as he affirms his infinite power (Jeremiah 32:27).

3. Anticipate what God might accomplish through these difficult circumstances. Wonderful possibilities exist as he sends us in new directions and uses us to minister to others.

No doubt there are more steps we can take. But these offer a good start. And what will be the result? Difficulties develop perseverance, and perseverance produces maturity—the one positive character trait that covers them all (James 1:2).

Heavenly Father, you know even better than I how easy it is to verbally affirm these truths; it’s another to live by them moment by moment. I still have much to learn about counting it all joy in the midst of trials. But I do aspire to be a mature person, able to say, “It is well with my soul.” No. Matter. What. Thank you for continuing to work on me, for never giving up.

IT IS WELL (Photo credit: Amydeanne)

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Out of the Fog–Revisited

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Gratitude on April 25, 2013| 8 Comments »

(This is the fiftieth post on From the Inside Out. In celebration, I’m diving into the archives for an early piece and reposting.)

On the way to work one foggy morning, I spotted a small patch of bright colors peeking through the haze ahead. That’s strange, I thought. What could it possibly be?

A few moments later the mystery was solved. Wafting over a garbage can was a bouquet of helium-filled mylar balloons!

Mylar balloons (Photo credit: Transguyjay)

It occurred to me (no doubt prompted by the Holy Spirit) that:

Out of the garbage that sometimes collects in and around our lives (the difficult people, the stressful circumstances) God provides mylar balloons—joyful, bright spots of blessings. I just need to keep my eyes open.

Alright, Lord,my heart responded that morning. I’ll try it. First, thank you for the way the lacy wisps of fog have produced a quiet serenity over the landscape. I’m reminded of your ethereal, surrounding Presence. Thank you for always being with me (Psalm 23:4).

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Those balloons certainly put a smile on my face. If someone else had been in the car with me, no doubt we’d have laughed out loud at the extraordinary sight. Thank you for the gift of humor, for the way it lifts my spirit (Proverbs 17:22).

Thank you also for the way you engineer circumstances. Just recently I recorded in my Blessings Journal how you miraculously shortened a to-do list that was impossibly long. But you changed dates and cancelled commitments until the items which remained were very doable. You are amazing!

To-do list book. (Photo credit: koalazymonkey)

My heart overflows with joy as I consider the variety of ways you minister to my spirit. Sometimes it’s through a family member or friend, through a song, a speaker, or something I read. Just the other day you spoke to me through a story I was reading. One of the characters explained that trials make us stronger and purer, and you see more of your reflection in us. It was as if you spoke those words directly to me, and my eyes filled with tears of joy, to realize I have the privilege of reflecting your glory.

Well, Lord, just another minute and I’ll be at work. Soon I’ll see my precious colleagues who have been so encouraging and supportive. Thank you for Christian sisters who care and pray for each other.

DSC_5104.JPG (Photo credit: @superamit)

Needless to say, I practically skipped into work that day. And what fun to share with special coworkers, “You are a beautiful mylar balloon in my life!” and then explain.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

What bright spots of blessing have surprised you recently? Name them and be uplifted. “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3).

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From the Inside Out

Impressions Becoming Expressions

Archive for the ‘Encouragement’ Category

Undeserved Goodness–Part 2

Small Things

Nan-Sense: It Makes Sense to Me

A Mindful God

Come to the River

Deed Seeds

More Meaningful Mishaps–on the Keyboard

Unexpected Reward

The Purpose of Problems–Part 2

Out of the Fog–Revisited

Nancy Ruegg

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